While The Wolfpack Basks In Victory, UNC Players Are Calling Each Other Out

A 19th century politician once quipped “to the victors belong the spoils,” and in the case of area college football, NC State is the clear victor: in 2015, they soundly whipped their arch rival to end the regular season, they returned to bowl eligibility, they are the only local team to win their post-season game, and the only one with clear momentum heading into next season.

The spoils of all of that?  Dave Doeren has definitely solidified his tenure and his program here, something that can only boost recruiting, and his team has the peace of mind that it can get the job done and that next year, they can even do a better one.  That’s a marked contrast from what another local school is feeling right now, and for State’s football program and its fans, those are sweet spoils indeed.

2014 Marks A Turnaround For The Pack

Admittedly, 2014 was not a high water mark for NC State football, but considering where they were going into the season, this team accomplished some great things.  They were an afterthought at best in the summer, but they turned around a three win season with no conference victories in 2013 to a winning record and with good players returning next year.

In short, with all things said and done, NC State exceeded expectations and shut down and made foolish comments like those from USA Today’s Paul Myerberg, who stated last June that “N.C. State isn’t good – no, not good – but don’t be surprised if the Wolfpack sneak into bowl eligibility. … N.C. State should win five games with this schedule, but this team has no discernible strengths whatsoever.”

They did that, and more, having settled bowl eligibility before going to Chapel Hill, taking the brash Heels to class, and then winning its bowl game with a solid performance on both sides of the ball — after being labeled as the underdog heading into the game.  NC State also showed exceptional improvement at quarterback, in the defensive secondary, along both lines and even along the sidelines, where coaches also made improvements in their play-calling and game management.

Not bad for a team with “no discernible strengths.”  That’s not to say that NC State is poised to burst onto the national scene as a ready-made replacement for FSU or Oregon, but they are making strides, and they were a better team than expected in 2014.

2015 looks good on paper right now, despite some losses to graduation and an unexpected transfer, the Wolfpack program has players in their system to replace those that are leaving, and by NC State standards, recruiting to fill other gaps is going well.  All that said, State is an an upward trajectory, and the program has restored itself quite nicely and has a clear path forward into next year that may lead to even better things.

On the other side of the Triangle: “Videri Magis Quam Esse.”

Meanwhile, things fell apart miserably in 2014 for Larry Fedora and his UNC Tar Heels.  With a preseason ranking and listed as one of the favorites to win the ACC Coastal Division, Carolina crash-landed yesterday to finish 6-7 and far behind Duke, NC State and even East Carolina in terms of their position in the state of North Carolina.  That’s a far-cry from being a dark-horse contender to get into the national title playoff, something that some pundits were claiming as a possibility for the perennially “sleeping giant” of college football.

In other words, videri magis quam esse: to seem, rather than to be.

Yesterday, UNC showed what it is really is. In their smoldering aftermath of what-could have-been yesterday, Carolina players can’t turn on each other fast enough: “”You can tell from the looks on a lot of guys’ faces, a lot of guys don’t care,” said [UNC] quarterback Marquise Williams.

Given the advantages of being a Carolina athlete, namely the education and all of the perqs that go with it, that’s just sad.

Maybe that’s Williams’ leadership filtering through his team.  On November 29th, in the second half and on the short end of what was to end as a 35-7 loss, Williams looked shell-shocked and more than a bit apathetic himself.  Nor did he look the picture of pep and energy against Rutgers, and he hardly gave the fans the image of the unfazed leader gamely leading his charges back into battle.

Tar Heel receiver Ryan Switzer added “we’ve got some soul-searching to do. A lot of guys need to really figure out whether they really want to be here or not.”

When the best players of your team are saying that, trouble can’t be far behind.  When you point your finger at a large group and claim superiority in public, discontent in that group usually follows. Switzer may discover that he will get exactly the opposite effect he intended: if you think they don’t care now, just wait.  The best thing he could have done was to say what he did in a private team meeting and not to reporters.

For his part, Larry Fedora may think the future is bright — he said so after the Quick Lane Bowl defeat — but the truth is that he’s probably going to be coaching for his job next year.  If things end up this time next year as they stand today, he’ll probably join the list of folks looking for a new sideline to patrol on game day.

Thing is, it’s not really all that difficult: if they are serious about turning their fortunes around, they could start by emulating their nearest rivals: by rolling their sleeves, doing the hard unpleasant work that it takes to build a good team and by not talking about how good they are in the meantime.  They could start that process by having their leadership stop airing their dirty laundry in the press about how they care but other anonymous players don’t.  That doesn’t build morale, it destroys it.  It doesn’t salve the feelings of disappointed supporters but it does provide high comedy for rival fans.

Meanwhile, NC State needs to keep doing what it did this season: working hard, believing in itself quietly, and continuing to grow.  Dave Doeren has done a Herculean job in resurrecting a program left for dead in the aftermath of Tom O’Brien’s departure, and considering everything, he’s done a great job of developing solid players and recruiting to his system.  All signs point to exactly that happening, and unlike UNC, those signs have an even brighter future for NC State football than this turn-around year that saw them finish 8-5.

Feeling Satisfied As A Fan

Speaking strictly as an NC State fan, I am glad we’re not in UNC’s position right now, and I am not talking about their never-ending academic, err, athletics department scandal.  Instead, I am talking about the disarray in their football program.  For them, it looks like a bad thing is about to get worse.

And for us, the future looks pretty bright.  See you next spring, Pack football.  You did us proud on many fronts.  Above all, you did it the right way and you did it with class.  You hit the books and you didn’t hit the police blotter.  When there was a discipline problem here or there, the coaches handled it swiftly and appropriately.  The hard work in the weight room , in the film room and on the practice field became more and more apparent as the year went on, and it was clear you were learning your lessons and applying them well.  That’s the NC State Way, something also known as “the right way to go about it.”

'14 Football Big Four Rivals Dave Doeren

Home Forums While The Wolfpack Basks In Victory, UNC Players Are Calling Each Other Out

Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 44 total)
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  • #67191
    Alpha Wolf
    Keymaster

    A 19th century politician once quipped “to the victors belong the spoils,” and in the case of area college football, NC State is the clear victor: in
    [See the full post at: While The Wolfpack Basks In Victory, UNC Players Are Calling Each Other Out]

    #67195
    Greywolf
    Participant

    A true pleasure to read. Thank you. I hope every State fan will post a “Thank you” so that Alpha Wolf can get a sense of how many of us he has entertained with this fine write up.

    Something I read on IC: “Sleeping giant my ass. How long is this mf going to sleep.”

    #67196
    tractor57
    Participant

    Maybe not ‘satisfied’ but thoroughly impressed with the development of the program. Kudos to the coaches, staff and the players.

    I’ll second Grey in saying thanks to Alpha Wolf for not only this write up but many others he has done over the years.

    #67197
    Tyler_Durden
    Participant

    Good read. I too, for the first time in a long time, have HOPE for next year.

    #67198
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Nicely done, Alpha.

    All things considered, it was a truly enjoyable season. Can’t wait ’til next season’s installment.

    #67203
    bill.onthebeach
    Participant

    If one views this Football season as a demonstration or lesson in “How to Handle Challenges and Adversity as Team and as an Individual”, instead of wins, losses and statistics…

    then the stark contrast in the direction each program is headed in even greater…

    The OP Title, while technically correct, perhaps misses the mark… Only TWO UNC Players Are Calling Each Other Out … The OTHER EIGHTY GUYS, and apparently Coaches and Staff are …

    INDIFFERENT !!

    now this is a great read by Jared Failko ( wral.com ) too… and the truth is ..
    It really doesn’t get any worse that… but something over there just doesn’t add up…

    ______________________

    We know…
    1. Everything “adds up” when you have all the pieces of the puzzle…
    2. There’s always somebody that knows more about something than you do…
    3. People can’t hide their feelings or keep there mouths shut…

    4. and most importantly… there is the story you hear or read AND
    There’s always a better story hidden in the background…

    SO….

    What can we conclude from all of this…

    There’s a reason for ‘indifference’ and it’s not that the kids in light blue don’t get along…

    #NCSU-North Carolina's #1 FOOTBALL school!
    #67204
    McCallum
    Participant

    State beat the lucky sperm club (wake forest), Syracuse, and the tar holes; hardly the basis to proclaim a resurgence of State’s fortunes. Close as a pubic to Monica’s lips, the Pack was awful close to dropping a game it had in hand the other night.

    There is a constant I have observed during my long suffering as a State man: State measures it’s success in context to the failures of the holes. I would suggest that ending the mental symbiotic relationship would be a healthy first step. Measure success and failure in objective rational manners, stop equating chapel hill with the base line for improvement. Measuring against the holes only deepens the paradigm they sought to impose long ago, they are the beginning and ending of all things.

    Simply hope that they cease to exist.

    McCallum

    #67208
    bill.onthebeach
    Participant

    For most all of us at SFN, Coaches and Players …
    Success this season… is measured against last season’s results …
    Nothing more, Nothing less.

    Perhaps, McCallum’s sentiments, would be best put as…
    “It’s bad karma to kick a man when he’s down…”
    and leave it at that …

    #NCSU-North Carolina's #1 FOOTBALL school!
    #67210
    Pack92
    Participant

    Well said as usual Alpha. The smoking embers at the hole are about to erupt into a full-fledged bonfire.
    Buy popcorn.

    #67212
    lawful
    Participant

    How interesting this string. In one light, we spend far too much time measuring ourselves against a stick we’d be far better to avoid. After all, what are we ranked? From another aspect, as a true pack fan it has always been as much about our successes as their failures. To me, that’s why this blog exists.

    The bigger problem for the future, I would think, would be how soon before bigger programs come calling and he starts listening.

    #67215
    OwenDorm83
    Participant

    Nice way to finish the season on an upswing. During off-season, DD needs to show the film of GA Tech and BC games where got manhandled. That’s the next step.

    Proud of the team for pulling it together.

    We’re all gonna miss 82

    #67221
    Prowling Woofie
    Participant

    While not the greatest or most consistent season ever, it’s hard not to appreciate a team that improves from start to finish. I like the trend….

    Best of luck to Bo – class act making an obviously well-thought out decision for his future.

    And thanks, Alpha, for this and many other great articles !

    #67222
    Greywolf
    Participant

    State beat the lucky sperm club (wake forest), Syracuse, and the tar holes; hardly the basis to proclaim a resurgence of State’s fortunes. Close as a pubic to Monica’s lips, the Pack was awful close to dropping a game it had in hand the other night.

    If State were down by a TD and needed to recover an on-side kick and score another TD in less than 1.5 minutes — an on-side kick we failed to recover — and we started claiming we were within a c-hair of winning, we would be laughed out of town. I think the same goes for claims that we were that close to losing. Sure we could have lost but THAT close? Be for real.

    There is a constant I have observed during my long suffering as a State man: State measures it’s success in context to the failures of the holes. I would suggest that ending the mental symbiotic relationship would be a healthy first step. Measure success and failure in objective rational manners, stop equating chapel hill with the base line for improvement. Measuring against the holes only deepens the paradigm they sought to impose long ago, they are the beginning and ending of all things.

    I think we got us a case here of McCallum seeing the world through his own eyes. I don’t see that here on SFN. Perhaps McCallum needs his eyes checked.

    Are we basking in our current success while enjoying EweNC’s current misery? Guilty. But all this BS? I don’t think so.

    #67226
    PackFamily
    Participant

    I agree with McCallum on this one. Glad we are trending up. As it pertains to UNC, it’s good for us that we are gaining an advantage as it translates to the recruiting trail, but that’s it. Basking in their implosion is inviting our own disasters.

    #67227
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    Mr. Grey is channeling my thoughts. I get what McCallum alludes to, but I have been getting a great deal of amusement in observing the signs of the dichotomous nature in 2 programs, myself.

    If one held a finger to the wind as early as a year, or more ago, the signs would have been received.

    #67228
    Greywolf
    Participant

    Basking in their implosion is inviting our own disasters.

    Read the words again, PackFamily. Basking in our victory, not basking in their implosion. If enjoying their misery is inviting disaster too effing bad. I’ve been a State fan since I was 7. That’s 70 years of listening to the righteous bastards crowing and preening about “The Caroline Way.” I believe I and some other older State Fans are enjoying the shoe being on the other foot for a while. Bragging rights for a year. How sweet it is. That’s 6 out of 8 years. I’ll tell you what’s inviting disaster, cheating for 20 years so you can get an edge on your “non rival.”

    #67229
    McCallum
    Participant

    I’ll kick the heals while they are down. Surly the product of my sinful nature, I enjoy the pain they are rightfully suffering.

    What I will not do is measure any success by the isolated failure of another.

    How different would it look if that former Habersham Central QB at Georgia Southern scores to put them up for good? Or maybe the odd play from the Great Pharoh of Columbus County against Syracuse, how different would that game have looked minus the pick six?

    Did State improve?

    Yes.

    Were they playing weaker competition at the end of the season ?

    No doubt.

    Does anyone outside of North Carolina measure their bearing and worth based on what goes on in chapel hill?

    Nope unless you are seeking to committ fraud.

    And finally, I have lost my glasses but I could swear that I read something about a State student transferring to Yale and somehow chapel hill was not involved.

    McCallum

    #67230
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    ^ That’s funny. I can see you lookin’ inside the recliner, now.

    Has Swofford been mentioned in the transfer yet?

    #67231
    Greywolf
    Participant

    Alpha Wolf says:
    “Admittedly, 2014 was not a high water mark for NC State football, but considering where they were going into the season, this team accomplished some great things. They were an afterthought at best in the summer, but they turned around a three win season with no conference victories in 2013 to a winning record and with good players returning next year.”

    That’s pretty clearly is not measuring “success by the isolated failure of another.” This year’s success is measured against last year’s lack of success. If we had lost to GSU, we were still a success compared to last year. Taking the Syracuse INT away from us to create a false loss, is ridiculous.

    What I’m left to puzzle over is why McCallum felt the need to lift his nose in the air and say, “What I will not do is measure any success by the isolated failure of another.” Measuring success by the isolated failure of another is only in his mind.

    If we were measuring our success by the failure of the holes, that failure sure as hell ain’t isolated.

    #67232
    Rick
    Keymaster

    I agree heartedly with grey and CD.
    We were the light weights now we are beating them.
    Progress is very evident even to these eyes.

    #67235
    McCallum
    Participant

    You have yet to realize that I refuse to credit chapel hill with anything other than cheating. It is on the DNA of some folks to drag chapel hill into anything regarding State.

    I’ve taken nothing away nor have I granted likewise.

    But since we are comparing to the year before, which is valid, then let us run this race back to the start. If that be the case, minus any balance provided for by the heals, then I’d say the year was a smashing success since State is sub .500 in football lifetime

    But if you are missing than then let me suggest the concept of n=1.

    McCallum

    #67237
    Greywolf
    Participant

    The bigger problem for the future, I would think, would be how soon before bigger programs come calling and he starts listening.

    Strangely enough I don’t worry about Doeren listening to the big boys calling. Why? We have what he wants. North Carolina is where he paid his own money to vacation with his family.

    I have no way of knowing but he seems to have core values that are bigger than money and I think if he is very successful our PTB will find the funds to keep him here. Even if he leaves isn’t it great that we have had a coach that was so successful that the big boys wanted him enough to buy out his contract.

    What I do worry about is keeping our coordinators and other assistants. Canada is going to be a very hot property soon. Our line coaches are IMO well above average. The other coaches are getting the job done as well. If our receivers coach can cure the “drop-sies” he can name his price in the pros.

    I see where you are coming from but I’m not inclined to worry about that which I can do nothing.

    #67238
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    ^ That’s funny. I can see you lookin’ inside the recliner, now.

    Has Swofford been mentioned in the transfer yet?

    When that slimy bastard put the call in to Yale’s AD, no doubt he dialed from a burner phone. There will be no trail.

    #67245
    blpack
    Participant

    Good discussion. I look at U*NC football now like I did when I attended State. The team we wanted to beat was U*NC, but Clemson was the program. Now it is FSU. Obviously we have a ways to go, but our steps in the right direction are so apparent from this time in 2013. Great to see the dumpster fire in CH, but we should improve ourselves and they will be in our rearview mirror. Preach on wise Greywolf!

    #67246
    McCallum
    Participant

    So now State is a hot bed of coaches?

    What is the name of that big river in Egypt?

    McCallum

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